title: Vitamin D deficiency and its supplementation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: We studied 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) levels in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the effect of vitamin D supplementation. Vitamin D levels were checked in 37 consecutive patients with ALS. Demographic data, vitamin D supplementation, change in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) score, and side effects from vitamin D were noted over a 9 month follow-up period. ALSFRS-R scores were compared between patients who took vitamin D and those who did not. The median age was 55 years and median time since symptom onset was 61 months. The mean vitamin D level was 22.3 ng/mL (normal range, 30-80 ng/mL). Eighty-one percent of patients had a vitamin D level lower than 30 ng/mL and 43% had a vitamin D level lower than 20 ng/mL. Twenty patients took 2000 international units of vitamin D daily. After adjustment for age and baseline vitamin D levels in a linear regression model, the ALSFRS-R score decline was smaller in patients taking vitamin D at 9 months (p=0.02) but was not significantly different at 3 or 6 months. Median vitamin D levels rose from 18.5 to 31.0 ng/mL at 6 months in the group taking vitamin D. No side effects secondary to vitamin D supplementation were reported. Vitamin D supplementation at 2000 international units daily was safe over a period of 9 months and may have a beneficial effect on ALSFRS-R scores. Further studies are warranted to determine whether there is a benefit in vitamin D supplementation for all ALS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: chafickaram@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chafic
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imperato
authors.forename: Daniel J L
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: MacGowan
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scelsa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: ALSFRS-R; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Vitamin D